Driving mechanism



E. cl EKSTROMER 2,112,835

DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 12, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 17 e0 Mm TT N N eE m M M D M WY wB 7v y i 4 133 if? j i 6 7 4 45 .0 a z 3 9 6 4 35 6 @5%%@%Z% wmwlzx MW 4 April 5, 1938.

April 5, 1938.

52 Ticl.

E. C. EKSTROMER DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 12, 1936 58 i .lE. /Z J ll4 I26 Z44 A 54 3 Sheets-Sheet .3

IN VE N TOR Eowmeo C. EKSTROMER ATTORNEYS 7 Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFlCE DRIVING MECHANISM poration of Nevada ApplicationAugust 12, 1936, Serial No. 95,556

9 Claims.

This invention relates to driving mechanism.

and more particularly to a mechanism of the character embodied in my U.S. Patent No. 1,799,458, issued April '7, 1931, and wherein means isprovided for converting rotary motion of a power plant intoreciprocating motion to correspondingly actuate a pump.

The object of the present invention is to provide a motion convertingmechanism wherein the means for effecting conversion of rotary motioninto reciprocating motion is characterized by its simplified structure;positiveness and accuracy of operation; high efficiency and lowfrictional losses; and its long life in transferring the rotary I powerof a prime mover to a reciprocable element. Another object of theinvention is to provide a motion converting mechanism embodying jawclutches adapted to be alternately engaged and disengaged torespectively cause right and left hand nuts to co-act with a feed shaftin actu- 20 ating a shuttle or other reciprocable 'member, with meansfor insuring positive and accurate operation of the clutches in propertimed relationship to the movements and positions of the reciprocablemember.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in thecombinations, arrangements and functional relationships of elements asset forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view showing in central longitudinal section the motionconverting mechanism embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating four parts comprising areversing member assembly embodied in the invention;

Figure 3 is a detail View in longitudinal central section of a left handnut and fixed jaw assembly 40 embodied in the invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail view in central section of the movable jaw of theclutch shown in Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the fixed jaw shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing a right hand nut andfixed jaw assembly embodied in the invention;

Figure 8 is a central longitudina1 sectional view similar to Figure 1but with the intermediate portion of the mechanism broken out and theterminal portions thereof illustrated in detail;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Figure8;

Figure 10 is-an enlarged transverse sectional View taken on the lineill-l0 of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10, but showing another positionof the illustrated parts;

Figure 12 is a top plan sectional view of the mechanism;

Figure 13 is a bottom plan sectional view of the mechanism; 10

Figure 14 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the linesl4l4 of Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a plan View of a shuttle member assembly embodied in theinvention.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the invention, in its presentembodiment, is enclosed by and works in a tubular housing ll] which inall respects is identical to that disclosed in my co-pending applicationfor patent on Pumping mechanism, now Patent No. 2,098,958, filedAugust12, 1936. For the present application it will suffice to state that thishousing is cylindrical in cross section and is provided internally atdiametrically opposed points with longitudinally extending grooves H--llin which work keys l2-l2 (Figures 10 and 14) seating in longitudinalgrooves l3l3 formed externally in a cylindrical shuttle l4, the ends ofwhich are closed by top and bottom caps l5 and It, respectively, havingthreaded connection with the shuttle and being locked to the shuttle byscrews H which also serve to secure the keys 12 to the shuttle.

The shuttle i4 is confined by the keys l2-l2 to movement axially in thehousing, and is adapted to be reciprocated therein between upper andlower bearings 18 and I9, respectively, within which is journaled toextend through the shuttle in co-axial relationship thereto a feed shafthaving externally thereof, right and left hand spiral grooves 2| and 22,respectively.

The bearings l8 and 19 provide for both radial and end thrusts upon theshaft 20; and the boxes of these hearings are rigidly secured to otherunits (not shown) of the assembly making up the pumping mechanisms of myco-pending application above referred to, all to the end that thebearing boxes will be fixed in the housing against rotation and axialdisplacement relative thereto and will confine the feed shaft 20 to r0-tational movement in the housing. 5

Threadedly mounted on the feed shaft 20 within the shuttle are right andleft hand nuts 23 and 24, respectively, of which there are two of eacharranged end to end and rigidly connected by collars 25 and 26,respectively. Intermediate v the pairs of nuts is an anti-frictionthrust bearing 21, and intermediate the uppermost and lowermost nuts ofthe pairs are anti-friction thrust bearings 28 and 29 which respectivelyabut the top and bottom caps I5 and I6 whereby to confine the nutsagainst axial displacement relative to the shuttle, and all as clearlyshown in Figure 1.

Secured by screws 30 to interfitting flanges 3| on the pair of nuts 2323are fixed clutch jaws 32 with respect to which movable jaws 33 areadapted to be engaged and disengaged, these movable jaws being slidablymounted on the cylindrical peripheries of the nuts for movement axiallyrelative to the respective fixed jaws. Other fixed clutch jaws 3434 aresecured by screws 35 to interfitting flanges 36 on the nuts 24, forcoaction with movable jaws 3'|31 which latter jaws are freely mounted onthe cylindrical peripheries of the nuts 24 for movement axially relativeto such fixed jaws.

It is to be noted from a consideration of Figure 14 that the co-actingteeth of the jaws 32 and 33 are adapted for driving engagement in onedirection, whereas the co-acting teeth of the jaws 34 and 31 are adaptedfor driving engagement in the reverse direction. Furthermore, as shownin Figure 14 and Figures 10 and 11, the movable jaws 33 and 31 arerespectively composed of two sections 33a33b and 3'Ia-3'lb, the sections33a and 31a being provided with the clutch teeth, and the sections 33band 3'") being provided with axially extending and diametricallyopposite grooves 3838 receiving keys 3939 secured by rivets 40inlongitudinal recesses 4I--4I of the shuttle I4 so as to positivelyprevent such sections from rotating relative to the shuttle member whilerendering the sections 33a and 37a free for limited circumferentialmovement relative to the respective sections 33b and 31b. Coil springs42 seating in pockets 43 and 44 formed in the respective sections33a-31a and 33b3|b urge the sections 33a in one direction relative tothe sections 33b, and the sections 31a in the opposite directionrelative to the sections 311), all for a purpose to be hereinafter fullydescribed.

Each pair of fixed and movable jaws 32 and 33 constitutes a clutch C,whereas each pair of fixed and movable jaws 34 and 3! constitutes aclutch C, the clutches CC being adapted for engagement and the clutchesC-C' for disengagement or vice versa, to accordingly render the nuts23-23 co-operable with the shaft 20 to feed the shuttle I4 in onedirection, or the nuts 2424 co-operable with the shaft to feed theshuttle in the reverse direction.

For this purpose a clutch actuating mechanism A is provided andcomprises a pair of diametrically opposed actuating rods 4545 of squarecross section which clear the jaws 32 and 34 and extend freely throughgrooves 46-46 of the jaw sections 33b and 31b and through grooves 41 and48 of the top and bottom caps I5 and I6 (Figure 1) for rigid connectionat their ends by screws 49 to cross plates 50 and 5| respectively aboveand below the top and bottom caps. The cross plates also have centralopenings 52 and 53, respectively, freely receiving the feed shaft 26, asclearly shown in Figures 1 and 10.

Projecting inwardly from each of the rods 4545 are brackets 54, one foreach of the movable jaws 3333 and 3'|3'|, and each provided with a pairof pins 55 surrounded by coil springs 56 and projecting into openings 51(Figure 6, for

example), in the respective movable jaws, the

relationships of the brackets, pins, springs, and movable jaws beingclearly shown in Figure 1.

The clutch actuating mechanism A formed by the assembly of rods 45 andcross bars 50 and 5|, operatively associated with the movable jaws bythe pins 35 and springs 56, as above described, is adapted to be latchedin one extreme position or another axially with respect to the shuttleI4 to retain either the clutches CC engaged and the clutches C'Cdisengaged or vice versa, by latch dogs 58 and 59, respectively, pivotedat 60 and 6| on the top and bottom caps I5 and I6, respectively, thedogs 58 and 59 being normally urged to latching positions for latchingengagement, respectively with the cross plates 50 and. 5| by springs 62and 63, as shown in Figure 14.

The dogs 58 and 59 are adapted to be res-pectively moved to non-latchingor released positions relative to the cross plates 50 and 5| accordingas the shuttle I4 reaches one extreme position or another in the housingII]. For this purpose, conical ended collars 64 and 65 are fixed,respectively, to the boxes of the bearings I8 and I9 in the path ofmovement of the dogs, as shown in Figure 8. Sleeves 66 and 61 areslidably mounted in the collars 64 and 65 on rods 68 and 69 havingsprings Ill and II thereon for urging the respective sleeve to anadvanced position for engagement and retraction against the action ofthe respective springs, by the respective cross plate 50 or 5| as theshuttle approaches the corresponding extreme position and before therespective latches are released. The springs 10 or II, as the case maybe, are thus placed under load, and the energy thus stored in thesprings is utilized upon release of the respective latches, to move theclutch actuating mechanism A from one of its extreme positions in orderto reverse the engagement and disengagement of the clutches C and C forthe purpose of effecting reverse move ment of the shuttle.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Let it be assumed that theshuttle I4 occupies its lowermost extreme position shown in Figures 1, 8and 14, wherein the clutches C-C are disengaged, and the clutches C"--C'are maintained engaged by the latches 5858 which are co-acting with thecross plate 50 to releasably retain the clutch actuating mechanism A inits uppermost extreme position relative to the shuttle.

As the left hand nuts 24-44 are now being held by the engaged clutchesCC against rotation, and as the feed shaft 20 is assumed to be driven bya rotary prime mover (not shown) in a clockwise direction as viewed intop plan, these nuts will co-act with the left hand threads 22 of theshaft in moving the shuttle I4 upwardly in the housing.

As the shuttle approaches its upper extreme position, the cross plate 50engages and retracts the sleeve 66 against the action of the springs 10,

so as to place the latter under load and store energy therein. Continuedupward movement of the shuttle causes the dogs 58 to engage the collar64 and. be moved thereby against the springs 62 to their releasedpositions relative to the cross plate 50. The springs 10 are now free toshift the clutch actuating mechanism A towards its lowermost extremeposition relative to the shuttle, so as to disengage the clutches CC'and engage the clutches CC.

Should the teeth of the clutches C-C fail to instantly mesh properly,the springs 56 mounted on those pins 55 associated with the movable jaws33-33 will be compressed and will thus act following the expenditure ofthe energy of the springs 62 to urge the movable jaws towards the fixedjaws 32--32 until such rotational movement of the latter jaws by the yetidle right hand nuts 2323 rotating with the shaft 2! has been effectedfor their teeth to be properly engaged by the teeth of the respectivejaws 33-33. The springs 56 thereby act as a supplemental means to thesprings to insure engagement of the clutches CC in proper timedrelationship to the upward movement of the shuttle. As the clutches CCare engaged, they are latched by the dogs 5959 against disengagement asthese dogs now co-act with the cross plate 5| for this purpose. It willalso be noted that upon engagement of the clutches CC the coil springs42 interposed between the sections Slla and 33b of the movable jaws 33will be compressed to effectively absorb the shock of starting the load,and when thus compressed will facilitate disengagement of the clutchesin a circumferential direction upon unlatching of the dogs 59.

Upon engagement of the clutches CC, the right hand nuts 2323 will beheld against rotation whereas the left hand nuts 24-2d will be free toidle by rotating with the shaft 20 in the aforestated clockwisedirection. The nuts 23 will now co-act with the right hand threads 2i ofthe shaft 20 to move the shuttle i4 downwardly in the housing l0.

As the shuttle approaches its lower extreme position, the cross plate 5!engages and retracts the sleeve 67 against the action of the springs Hso as to place the latter under load and store energy therein. Continueddownward movement of the shuttle causes the dogs 59 to engage the collar65 and be moved thereby against the springs 63 to their releasedpositions relative to the cross plate 5!. The springs H are now free toshift the clutch actuating mechanism A towards its uppermost extremeposition relative to the shuttle so as to disengage the clutches CC andengage the clutches C'-C'. Should the teeth of the clutches C-C fail toinstantly mesh properly the springs 56 mounted on those pins associatedwith the movable jaws 31 function in the same manner as described forthe movable jaws 33 during the other stroke of the shuttle. The coilsprings 42 interposed between the sections 37a and 31b of the movablejaws 3'! also function in the same manner as described for the jaws 33.

This cycle of operation is repeated so long as the shaft 29 is beingrotated, from which it will be evident that the rotary motion of theshaft will be converted into reciprocating motion at the shuttle so thatwith a reciprocating member such as the plunger rod of a pump (notshown) operatively associated with the shuttle such element will becorrespondingly reciprocated to perform useful work.

What is claimed is:

1. Motion converting mechanism comprising a reciprocable shuttle adaptedfor operative connection to an element to be reciprocated; a feed shaftadapted to be driven in one direction and having right and left handthreads; right and left hand threaded nuts on the feed shaft; meansoperatively connecting the nuts with the shuttle for movement therewithaxially of the shaft; means including a jaw clutch for each nut,alternately engageable and disengageable to cause one nut or the otherto be held against rotation, for co-action with said shaft inreciprocating the shuttle as the shaft rotates in one direction; andmeans co-acting with the jaws of said clutches to yieldingly absorbshocks imposed thereon by the starting load when the clutches are beingengaged.

2. Motion converting mechanism comprising a reciprocable shuttle adaptedfor operative connection to an element to be reciprocated; a feed shaftadapted to be driven in one direction and having right and left handthreads; right and left hand threaded nuts on the feed shaft; meansoperatively connecting the nuts with the shuttle for movement therewithaxially of the shaft; a jaw clutch for each nut, each clutch having afixed jaw secured to a nut, and a jaw confined against rotation relativeto the shuttle and movable axially to engage and disengage therespective fixed jaw; means for actuating the movable jaws to engage oneclutch and disengage the other or vice versa to accordingly cause onenut or the other to be held against rotation and coaction with saidshaft in reciprocating the shuttle as the shaft rotates in onedirection; one jaw of each clutch being composed of two sections havinga limited relative rotational movement; and spring means co-acting withsaid sections to relatively urge them in one direction for theabsorption of shocks imposed on the jaws in the opposite direction bythe starting load when the clutch is being engaged.

3. Motion converting mechanism comprising a reciprocable shuttle adaptedfor operative connection to an element to be reciprocated; a feed shaftadapted to be driven in one direction and having right and left handthreads; right and left hand threaded nuts on the feed shaft; meansoperatively connecting the nuts with the shuttle for movement therewithaxially of the shaft; a jaw clutch for each nut, each clutch having afixed jaw secured to a nut, and a jaw confined against rotation relativeto the shuttle and movable axially to engage and disengage therespective fixed jaw; actuating means for the movable jaws operativelyconnected thereto and movable axially relative to the shuttle to engageone clutch and disengage the other or vice versa, according as theactuating means is moved to one extreme position or the other whereby tocause one nut or the other to be held against rotation for co-actionwith said shaft in reciprocating the shuttle as the shaft rotates in onedirection;

means for latching the actuating means in one or the other of itsaforestated positions; means for storing energy to move the actuatingmeans from one of its positions to the other or vice versa according asthe shuttle approaches one predetermined extreme position or the other;means for releasing the latching means following the storing of energyas aforestated in order that said actuating means will be moved toactuate the clutches; and means providing a yieldable operativeconnection axially between said actuating means and movable jaws, bywhich engagement of the clutches will be effected should the aforestatedenergy be expended without the clutches becoming engaged.

4. Motion converting mechanism comprising a reciprocable shuttle adaptedfor operative connection to an element to be reciprocated; a feed shaftadapted to be driven in one direction and having right and left handthreads; right and left hand threaded nuts on the feed shaft; meansoperatively connecting the nuts with the shuttle for movement therewithaxially of the shaft; a jaw clutch for each nut, each clutch having afixed jaw secured to a nut, and a jaw confined against rotation relativeto the shuttle and movable axially to engage and disengage therespective fixed jaw; actuating means for the movable jaws operativelyconnected thereto and movable axially relative to the shuttle to engageone clutch and disengage the other or vice versa, according as theactuating means is moved to one extreme position or the other whereby tocause one nut or the other to be held against rotation for co-actionwith said shaft in reciprocating the-shuttle as the shaft rotates in onedirection; means for moving the actuating means to one or the other ofits aforestated positions when the shuttle reaches one predeterminedextreme position or the other, said actuating means comprising rodsslidably mounted on the shuttle; axially disposed pins on said rodsentering the movable jaws; and springs on the pins acting therewith toprovide a yieldable operative connection between the rods and jaws in anaxial direction for the purpose described.

5. Motion converting mechanism comprising a reciprocable shuttle; adouble acting feed shaft adapted to be driven in one direction; rightand left hand nuts operatively connected to the shuttle to travel alongthe shaft axially with the shuttle; actuating means including a jawclutch for each nut, alternately engageable and disengageable to causeone nut or the other to be held against rotation, for co-action withsaid shaft in reciprocating the shuttle as the shaft rotates in onedirection, each of said clutches having a fixed jaw secured to a nut,and a jaw confined against rotation relative to the shuttle and movableto engage and disengage the fixed jaw, one jaw of each clutch beingcomposed of two sections having a limited relative rotational movement;and spring means co-acting with said sections to relatively urge them inone direction for the absorption of starting shocks imposed on the jawsin the opposite direction as the clutch is engaged.

6. Motion converting mechanism comprising a reciprocable shuttle; adouble acting feedshaft adapted to be driven in one direction; right andleft hand nuts operatively connected to the shuttle to travel along theshaft axially with the shuttle; actuating means including a jaw clutchfor each nut, alternately engageable and disengageable to cause one nutor the other to be held against rotation, for co-action with said shaftin reciprocating the shuttle as the shaft rotates in one direction; andmeans co-acting with the jaws of said clutches to yieldingly absorbshocks imposed thereon by the starting load as the clutches are beingengaged.

7. Motion converting mechanism comprising a shuttle; a rotary drivingmember; reversing mechanism including jaw clutches for operativelyconnecting said member to the shuttle;

actuating means for alternately engaging said clutches to effectreciprocation of the shuttle; means for latching the actuating means inone position or another; means for storing energy to move the actuatingmeans from one of its positions to the other or vice versa according asthe shuttle approaches one predetermined extreme position or the other;means for releasing the latching means following the storing of energyas aforesaid in order that said actuating means will be moved to actuatethe clutches;

and means providing a yieldable operative con nection axially of theshuttle between said actuating means and clutches, by which engagementof the latter will be effected should the aforesaid energy be expendedWithout the clutches becoming engaged.

8. Motion converting mechanism comprising a shuttle; a rotary drivingmember; reversing mechanism including jaw clutches for operativelyconnecting said member to the shuttle; actuating means for alternatelyengaging said clutches to effect reciprocation of the shuttle; means forlatching the actuating means in one position or another; means forstoring energy to move the actuating means from one of its positions tothe other or vice versa according as the shuttle approaches onepredetermined extreme position or the other; means for releasing thelatching means following the storing of energy as aforestated in orderthat said actuating means will be moved to actuate the clutches; andmeans co-acting with the actuating means and clutches by whichadditional energy will be stored to insure engagement of the clutchesshould the aforestated energy be expended without the clutches becomingengaged.

9. Motion converting mechanism comprising a shuttle; a rotary drivingmember; reversing mechanism including jaw clutches for operativelyconnecting said member to the shuttle; actuating means for alternatelyengaging said clutches, to efiect reciprocation of the shuttle; meansfor latching the actuating means in one position or another; means forstoring energy to move the actuating means from one of its positions tothe other or vice versa, according as the shuttle approaches onepredetermined extreme position or the other; means for releasing thelatching means following the storing of energy as aforestated in orderthat said actuating means will be moved to actuate the clutches; saidactuating means including rods slidably mounted on the shuttle; pins onthe rods; and springs on the pins co-acting with the clutches to provideyieldable operative connections therewith for the purpose described.

EDWARD C. EKSTROMER.

